I am not trying to get around learning laws (I've read the laws) or the Range part of the test (hell I love going to the range)... but thinking about the time commitment and the financial commitment, it sure is tempting to go with a Virginia Non-Resident Conceal Carry Permit. Texas is 10 to 15 hours or time versus a 1 hr online course for Virginia. For costs... the Texas license by the time I do the course, the filing fee, ammo for test, and finger-printing is around $260. Virginia is around $160. Reported turnaround time is around 15 days quicker as well.

From what I see this is perfectly legal and would only affect carrying into a few states (Colorado, Florida, and a couple others).

With an Virginia non-resident permit you will be in violation of the federal GFSZ Act if you get within 1,000 feet of a school. The federal exemption only applies to those with a permit from the state in which the school zone is located:

Quote:

18 USC 922(q)2(A)
It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.

(B)Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the possession of a firearm—
(i)on private property not part of school grounds;

(ii)if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license;

This may or may not be of concern to you but it is something of which you should be aware.

I really think this is more of a general question than a law question, but anyway...

Thanks for the input. I knew there had to be things I was not thinking of (thanks Don H)... I'm a couple months away from making any decision, but this swings me back toward sticking with a Texas permit.

FL and MI I think are the one's that require a non-resident to have a permit from the state they reside in. There are other states that will not allow their own residents to carry on another state's permit.. I don't know if TX is one of those or not...

But, if you are looking for an inexpensive easy, no training required, Non-resident permit that is recognized by TX, go for a PA or WA Non-resident permit. The only restriction is you have to apply in person...so if you ever travel to PA or WA, stop at the local Sheriff's office and plunk down small change. (way cheaper than anyone else's, PA is $20 and WA is $55.25)

After a little more research, I will agree on CO, NH and SC, but I question Maine and Florida...(I know I was the one that mentioned FL first)

MI and NH flat do not issue Non-res permits, CO and SC issue modified Res permits in very specific cases...BUT

Both Maine and Florida freely (but not free) issue non-res permits of their own...so, they are not going to honor their own non-res permit????? I don't think so...I think they will honor their own non-res permit, just no-one elses.

Probably the most interesting one is WI. The will recognize a VA non-resident permit, but not a VA resident permit????

NH issues non-resident permits through mail.Maine and FL honor their own out-of-state permits of course, but they won't honor a TX resident who only has a VA permit(the TX resident must have a TX permit).
The WI thing is due to a different background check between VA residents and non-VA residents.

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